The African American Health Forum

November 14, Saturday -

The African American Health Forum will be held at Johnnie Ruth Clarke, providing FREE screenings and presentations by many of the community's black physicians and health experts.
FMI: mdmills916@msn.com or 727-510-5051

Hi! Most of you know Vel Thompson! For any of you who do not know Vel personally, here is an opportunity to meet her and find out why so many leaders in the community support her. A new poll has her within the margin of error; yes, she is that close! Let’s make it happen on November 3^rd. Come support Vel next Sunday and help her win!

Help elect Vel Thompson as our representative in District 6

			Bring a check and bring a friend

When: Sunday, October 11^th from 5 – 7 p.m.

Where: Atwater’s Cafeteria

895 22^nd Avenue, South at the corner of MLK

St. Petersburg

Hosts

Mike Atwater

Mario Farias

Edward & Adrien Helm

Gwen Reese

Make campaign contributions payable to: Campaign to Elect Vel Thompson

2551 De Soto Way, South

St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Here is Vel’s new literature piece that is on its way to the printers right now!

Gibbs Teachers Tour Southside Neighborhoods

This tour included 22nd Street South, 18th Avenue South, Bartlett Park, Harbordale, Jordan Park, Childs Park and the Carter G. Woodson African-American Museum.

ST. PETERBURG -Principal Kevin Gordon and his staff have been working
almost around the clock as they prepare for the 2009-10 school year. On Tuesday
the staff participated in a Cultural Competency Day which included guest speaker
Zachary, Zack Rich, Richardson, author of “The DUMB Kid Speaks: 6 Keys to
Helping Your Student to Succeed In School & In Life.” Richardson is the
president and founder of A Pivotal Point Enterprises and the Executive Director
of The Character Center. He recently received the 2009 Delta Economic Lifetime
Township Achievement Award from the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of the Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. He is currently working with the mayor of Tallahassee
and Florida State University in the PBS Kids Raising Readers Program. Richardson
is a 1989 graduate of Gibbs High School and credits many of his teachers,
including some who are still teaching there, with his success.A very important
part of the day’s activities was the bus tour through many of the south side
neighborhoods that a large number of Gibbs students call home; the tour was
sponsored by the Gibbs Class of 1966. Class president, Eugene Roberson and
officers unanimously agreed to donate $698.00 for the tour buses used to
transport 110 teachers through the community. Roberson said, “This is a small
way to support the school that provided us with the strong foundation that
accounts, in no small way, for the success of so many Gibbs Gladiators.”

More at The Weekly Challenger
http://www.theweeklychallenger.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=98680&sID=4

Credit Union coming after Washington Mutual closed its South St. Pete branch

Update:
Today the long awaited groundbreaking for the new GTE Credit Union was scheduled. A day before the city elections.
I don't have all of the answers on this but I know no one has asked any questions. The deal is very complicated and I don't claim to understand it. The Times held this out as a national model for redevelopment. Loan guarantees may still put local taxpayers on the hook if Sweetbay fails.

At the time this was developed Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot were looking for inner city locations for stores to build without government subsidy. This was reported in the business section of the Times.

Another option was to let Sweetbay buy out the Winn Dixie lease and open at a fraction of the cost and let another grocer and dollar store build on the 22nd St site at their own cost. City funds then could have gone to public safety making all neighborhood businesses more viable.

What else could the city have done with this money?

This was first published April 10th,2008:
This company was a neighborhood partner and the only bank to do business in what is now called Midtown St. Petersburg. Local media have told us we didn't have any banks here but we know that WaMu was a part of our community for many years.

Until just a few years ago this bank was part of a thriving shopping center across the street from a high rise home to hundreds of customers. Then the city used tax money to bring in the Sweetbay shopping center with its proposed bank branch, and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority began to depopulate the Graham Park Apartments in preparation for its transformation to more upscale housing.

Winn Dixie was in trouble as competition from Wal-Mart cut into its bargain priced market. The store seemed to be hanging on in anticipation of the construction of several new buildings with hundreds of residents within walking distance. Save a Lot and Publix also recently opened new stores nearby.

Sweetbay opened on the first weekend of November '05, two days before the city elections. Winn Dixie didn't wait for this and had already closed a few weeks before in August. The bank never recovered from the loss of their shopping center anchor. Local news reports largely ignored the existing store and bank as they talked up the new store and proposed bank. This typical report contributed to the election hype.

Midtown is a 5.5-square-mile area that sits mostly below Central Avenue. Many of its residents are in the low-income range. City officials targeted the area for improvement after racial disturbances there in 1996. Residents were asked what they wanted, and they put a chain grocery store at the top of their list. They also wanted a post office, which opened this month, and a bank, which should be in operation next year.

Times story by Luis Perez: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/article1013610.ece

22nd Street South Community Festival - Sept 19th

EVENT FEATURES:

§ SEAFOOD & OTHER FOOD VENDORS

§ ARTS - CRAFTS – SERVICE - GREEN VILLAGE VENDORS

§ MUSIC ALL DAY

§ ADMISSION FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Event to be held at the Corner of 22^nd St. South & 13^th Ave. So.
site of the historic Mercy Hospital & the current Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center

Event Organizer - 22^ND STREET REDEVELOPMENT CORP., INC.
a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization revitalizing 22^nd Street South

Application Deadline Fri. Sept. 11, 2009 – space is limited – register early so as to not be left out

http://www.discover22ndst.com/SeafoodFestInfo2009.htm

FOREVER YOUNG by Alphaville

"Let There Be Peace On Earth" (BEAUTIFUL a capella)


PS22 Chorus MICHAEL JACKSON Tribute